Governor says $4 billion EGA aluminum smelter will bring jobs, asks lawmakers to clear funding and fast-track permits

Governor (name not specified), the governor of Oklahoma, said last week the state announced “the biggest economic development project in state history,” a planned $4,000,000,000 investment by Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) to build an aluminum smelter in eastern Oklahoma that he said would create about 1,000 direct jobs and about 1,800 construction jobs.

"It's gonna be, a 4,000,000,000 investment in our state, and, a lot of you it'll create a thousand direct jobs. Average wage is over $80,000 a year and about 1,800 during construction," the governor said.

The governor framed the project as both an economic and national-security benefit, saying the smelter will produce aluminum and gallium, a byproduct used in semiconductors. He said President Trump and federal-level outreach helped attract the investment and noted an MOU linking EGA to Raytheon for gallium supply.

"He announced $1,300,000,000,000 investment into The US over the next decade...the first 4,000,000,000 dollars of this...is gonna be building a smeltering facility in the great state of Oklahoma," the governor said.

On permitting and regulatory timing, the governor pointed to state authority and an executive order directing faster review. "Most of the permitting will be handled by Oklahoma's...agencies, the DEQ primarily," he said, and added, "we're delegated from the EPA to issue the permits." He also referenced an executive order that directs agencies to complete permits within 30 days.

The governor also discussed state budget negotiations and legislative funding for the project. He said the Senate initially did not advance a $255,000,000 appropriation connected to the EGA project but indicated confidence the funding will be approved. He highlighted utility involvement, saying Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), owned by AEP, has committed roughly $1 billion to be ready for the facility.

"PSO is also stepping up to the table...they're gonna invest a billion dollars in Oklahoma just to be ready, for this, this aluminum smeltery facility," he said.

The governor emphasized recruiting related manufacturers to locate near the smelter and said the project could spur additional downstream industrial investment.

He concluded by expressing confidence state leaders can secure the necessary legislative approvals. "We're gonna get this across the finish line...we'll all take the victory together," the governor said.

The statements were made during a press conference in which reporters asked follow-up questions about permitting, legislative funding and local company interest. No formal state action was announced at the conference beyond the administration’s public advocacy and coordination with state agencies and utilities.